This Morning in Metals: Section 232 Auto Tariff Decision Delayed

This morning in metals news, the May 18 deadline for the president’s decision on potential new automotive tariffs is being pushed back up to six months, Chinese iron ore futures rose to a record high and the Trump administration reversed an Obama-era pause on mining in a northeastern Minnesota wilderness area.

Pumping the Brakes

May 18 marked the statutory deadline for President Donald Trump to make a decision regarding whether or not to impose new tariffs on imported automobiles and automotive parts. The decision is prompted by a Section 232 investigation — launched in May 2018 — into whether those imports negatively impact U.S. national security.

China’s Iron Ore Futures Soar

According to Reuters, the most-trade September iron ore contract on the Dalian Commodity Exchange rose by as much as 4.5% Thursday to reach 678.5 yuan ($98.62) per ton.

Trump Administration Opens Door to Potential Minnesota Copper Mining

The U.S. Interior Department this week renewed two mining leases near the Boundary Waters Wilderness area in northeastern Minnesota, leases which had been suspended under President Barack Obama, Reuters reported.

According to the report, the Bureau of Land Management granted the leases to Twin Metals Minnesota LLC, which is a subsidiary of Chilean copper giant Antofagasta.